"No mental blocks," Noel said. "It's been 18 months out. I haven't been thinking about the knee for a long time now, many months. So I'm definitely going to continue to get it stronger, as strong as possible and just continue working.

"It's very validating. It's been 18 months since I played an organized game, and it felt great today."

It's unclear how many more games Noel will play in the summer league.

Gortat ecstaticFormer Orlando Magic center Marcin Gortat, who still makes his offseason U.S. home in Central Florida, visited the summer league Saturday.

He remained ecstatic that he and the Washington Wizards recently agreed to a five-year, $60 million contract.

Gortat helped lead the up-and-coming Wizards to a 44-38 regular-season record and to the postseason's second round.

"That's going to be a great team for the next four or five years," the Polish center told the Orlando Sentinel. "I'm definitely excited about being back with a crew that I was successful with. I feel comfortable on the team. I feel comfortable in the system. I don't like changes in my life, so I'm definitely excited about being back. And it's on the East Coast, where it's closer to Orlando, where it's my home. It's closer to Europe."

In recent weeks, Gortat said the Wizards sent coach Randy Wittman and senior vice president of basketball operations Tommy Sheppard to Krakow, Poland, to meet with him. One of the team's assistant coaches, Pat Sullivan, spent four to six days with Gortat to help Gortat run his youth basketball camps.

"They showed me plenty of love," Gortat said. "They didn't have to even do it, but they did, and it means a lot to me. So it's always great to be wanted. I just want to pay it back and play the best basketball that I can."

Van Gundy returnsFormer Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, who is now the Detroit Pistons' coach and president of basketball operations, watched the Pistons beat the Rockets 95-89 on Saturday.

It's believed that it was the first time Van Gundy has stepped foot inside Amway Center since the Magic fired him in May 2012.

"[It was] good to see people, good to be back in the game," Van Gundy said.

Former Magic assistant coaches Bob Beyer and Brendan Malone, who are now on Detroit's coaching staff, also are in Orlando—with Beyer serving as the head coach of Detroit's summer-league team. Charles Klask, the Magic's former scouting information manager, is now a Pistons assistant coach and is in Orlando, as is former Magic video coordinator Adam Glessner, who is now a Pistons scout.

Heartbreaking momentFree-agent point guard Pierre Jackson injured his right Achilles' tendon playing for the Sixers against the Magic and had to be carried off the court.

A Sixers official said the initial diagnosis was a ruptured Achilles', but Jackson will be reevaluated.

Jackson was a standout when he completed his college career at Baylor during the 2012-13 season, and Jackson spent last season in the NBA Development League and playing overseas.

Via Twitter, Jackson sent out a message shortly after he suffered his injury.

Jackson wrote: "Thank you to everyone reaching out its highly appreciated..... Pray for me."

A Philadelphia 76ers guard sprinted up the court and pushed the ball to the foul line in the Orlando Magic's defensive end. The guard suddenly slowed, then dished to teammate K.J. McDaniels to set up an easy layup.

A 19-year-old Portsmouth woman is facing multiple charges following a police pursuit that ended in Newport News over the weekend and involved two children reported missing in Chesapeake, an official said.